In 1956, Duke Ellington, one of the most historic figures in big band, was dealing with a struggling career amidst a changing musical landscape. Without a record deal, the Duke Ellington Orchestra performed at the Newport Jazz Festival, a relatively new format for live performance in jazz. From the opening notes of the national anthem, to the 27-chorus solo by Paul Gonsalves, to Ellington’s trademark closing statement, “You are very beautiful, very sweet, and we do love you madly”, Ellington’s Newport concert is his greatest performance, one that practically caused a riot and made headlines around the world, and one that revitalized his popularity for the rest of his life.